Nadhir Bouznad: Vladimir Petković’s dues file was closed three months ago
Algerian Football Federation Secretary General Nadhir Bouznad said the file on outstanding payments to former coach Vladimir Petković and his staff was closed three months ago. He added that the federation would announce the official amount due for ending the arrangement before the next general assembly and allow its members to review the documents and decisions related to the file.
Speaking about the national under-20 team, Bouznad affirmed the federation’s support for its coaching staff, led by Ibrahim Hamdani, and praised its work and achievements, including winning the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games. He also praised the appointment of former international players, such as Moussa Saïb and Antar Yahia, to positions of responsibility within the national teams, and called on Algerian clubs to place their trust in local staff.
Bouznad rejected the description of the professional league as weak, noting that 22 players active in the league had been called up to their national teams during the current international break, compared with five to seven players in previous years. He also pointed out that Algerian clubs had featured in the group stages of both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup since 2014, representing Algerian football with two teams in each competition.
He praised the improved organisation of league matches and the efforts of the clubs, the professional league and public television in welcoming teams, providing coverage and adhering to filming standards. He also commended the scheduling of fixtures and the completion of the first and second halves of the season within the set deadlines, explaining that delays to some matches may be linked to clubs’ continental commitments and organisational considerations.
Regarding the punishment of playing behind closed doors, he said it was a disciplinary measure used in various leagues and aimed at protecting the game and clubs. He stressed the need to respect the regulations and provide appropriate conditions for welcoming supporters, while ensuring that fans who support their teams in a civilised manner are not punished.
Bouznad acknowledged that refereeing errors occur, saying that the most important thing is to address and correct them. He revealed that the federation has 63 accredited assessors monitoring referees’ performances, including academics and former referees with at least 15 years of experience. He added that the central refereeing committee monitors performances, identifies shortcomings and supports referees, taking action when necessary. He called for refereeing errors not to be used to justify poor results and affirmed that efforts to develop refereeing would continue through training, support and increased use of video assistant referee technology.